Last week we dug deep in the treasures of God's word to discover what death is, and what happens when a person dies.

We read from the book of Job:

"So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens [be] no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep." - Job 14:12

So the dead, lie in the sleep of death until the heavens be no more, which we learnt was the coming of the great day of God in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise (2. Peter 3:10).

Then what? Yes, what happens then? Will the dead be raise back to life? What happens to the righteous and the wicked? Let's prayerfully open God's word to discover the answers.

In Acts chapter one, we read about Jesus leaving this earth after His death and resurrection.

"And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." - Acts 1:10-11

The disciples were looking intently toward heaven as Jesus went up, but then two angels in the guise of young men in white, told them that Jesus was going to return in the same manner as he went up in to heaven. In other words, when He returns he will descend from heaven, just like he ascended.

With that in mind, let's continue searching the scriptures to find out what happens to those that sleep.

"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope." - 1. Thessalonians 4:13

Perfect! Paul is saying that he doesn't want us to be ignorant about those that are asleep. So let's keep reading.

"For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him." - 1. Thessalonians 4:14

Those who have died believing in Jesus, those in whom the Righteousness of Christ was a living active principle enabling them to have victory over sin, those that had the presence of Christ abiding with them, and died in Jesus, even those will God bring with him.

Wait a minute... where and when is God bringing those that sleep in Jesus?

Notice the parallel in the verse we just read. Jesus died and rose again, even so... There's the comparison. Jesus died and rose; those that sleep in Jesus will also die and rise again. After they have been resurrected, where will God bring them?

"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." - 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

What a powerful verse! Here we read about the awesome power of the second coming of Christ. Where, as we read earlier, Christ descends in like manner to how He ascended from His disciples. The dead in Christ are resurrected and rise first, and then those who are alive in Christ, on the earth, are caught up together to them in the clouds, to meet the Lord, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. What a beautiful thought!

God wants to bring us to be with Him, to dwell with Him for eternity!

Dear reader, do you want the precious hope of living in the presence of the almighty God for eternity? This is within your reach; God has a plan whereby all may be fitted for immortal life. Here is our training ground. Here on this earth we must form characters fit for heaven. And Jesus, who gave all of heaven for our salvation, sits as the purifier and refiner of His people. If you surrender your life moment by moment to Him, through prayer and study of the Word, He will prepare you to stand in the great day of God, and to rise and meet the Lord in the air!

Next week we will continue to search the scriptures, to discover more about the rest of the dead that take no part in this first resurrection.